---
title: "entX and University of Adelaide to scale nuclear battery production for space and defense"
url: https://www.voxelmatters.com/entx-and-university-of-adelaide-to-scale-nuclear-battery-production-for-space-and-defense/
date: 2026-02-08
modified: 2026-02-08
lang: en
author: "Joseph Caron-Dawe"
description: "The University of Adelaide and South Australian nuclear technology company entX have secured funding to scale production of GenX, a betavoltaic nuclear battery designed for long-duration space and defense missions. ..."
categories:
  - "3D Printing Processes"
  - "AM Research"
  - "Industrial Additive Manufacturing"
  - "Nuclear Energy"
  - "Research & Education"
tags:
  - "future"
image: https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Adelaide_Uni_Additive_Manufacturing_sc_uv4ybm-640x369.jpg
word_count: 265
---

# entX and University of Adelaide to scale nuclear battery production for space and defense

The University of Adelaide and South Australian nuclear technology company entX have secured funding to scale production of GenX, a [betavoltaic nuclear battery](https://www.voxelmatters.com/3d-printing-cleaner-energy/) designed for long-duration space and defense missions. 

The [Additive Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (AMCRC)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/australia-invests-271-million-in-amcrc-initiative/) has awarded the grant as its first funded research initiative, targeting systems that operate where maintenance, refueling or solar power remain impractical such as spacecraft, autonomous underwater vehicles and remote surveillance platforms.

GenX integrates additive manufacturing with thin-film deposition to build nanoscale layers of metals, metal oxides and semiconductors into ultra-thin betavoltaic films. The approach delivers power densities that exceed current global benchmarks, the company reported. 

![The University of Adelaide and South Australian nuclear technology company entX have secured funding to scale production of GenX](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/CSIRO_Australian_Additive_Manufacturing_CRC_sc_iiwflf-340x196.jpg)

"By combining new semiconductor deposition techniques with additive manufacturing and surface engineering, we've demonstrated betavoltaic devices with power densities that simply weren't achievable using conventional methods," stated Professor Drew Evans, University of Adelaide, who developed the GenX prototype and will lead the research project.

Over the next 14 months, entX and the University of Adelaide will validate the device and its manufacturing process for evaluation by potential customers. 

The work will transition key prototype activities, including physical vapor deposition to form electrical junctions, into a scalable additive manufacturing process at entX's certified radiation facility in Adelaide. Additive manufacturing will also prototype radiation-shielded encasements for safe integration into space, defense and remote systems.

"This project shows how additive manufacturing can take breakthrough research and make it manufacturable at scale," stated Simon Marriott, Managing Director at AMCRC. 

The initiative aims to deliver a high-power betavoltaic demonstrator and establish capability in advanced betavoltaic manufacturing, and is being funded to the value of AUD$1.8 million (USD$1.26m).